October 15

Born in 1344 into the ruling Valois family of France, Marie Valois spent her life amid the political intrigues of the Hundred Years' War. As a princess, she represented the royal lineage in diplomatic and ceremonial functions of the court. Historical records about her personal achievements are limited, but she is remembered for her steadfast role in a tumultuous era. Her death in 1404 closed the chapter on a life lived in service to her family's legacy. Her memory endures in the annals of French royal history.

Born in 1443, Gilbert inherited the title of Count of Montpensier, overseeing estates in the Auvergne region. His tenure followed the ravages of the Hundred Years' War, and he focused on restoring local stability and rebuilding infrastructure. As a medieval noble, he acted as both a military leader and a patron of religious institutions in his domain. Details of his personal life and exploits are scarce, but his governance helped solidify the Bourbon-Montpensier line. His death in 1496 passed the countship to his successors, ensuring his family's continued prominence in French nobility.

Carlo Gambino emigrated from Sicily to the United States as a young man. He rose through the ranks of New York's Mafia families to become boss of what became known as the Gambino crime family. Under his leadership, the family consolidated power and engaged in gambling, loan sharking, and other rackets. Gambino maintained a low public profile and ruled his organization with strategic alliances. His tenure marked one of the most powerful eras of organized crime in the 20th century. He died of natural causes in 1976, leaving a lasting impact on American mob history.

Vincent Canby was a prominent American film critic and journalist who spent over three decades writing for The New York Times. Born in Chicago in 1924, he began his career covering theater before shifting to film criticism. His insightful and often witty reviews championed independent and foreign films, expanding American audiences’ cinematic tastes. Canby’s approachable yet erudite style made him a trusted voice for cinema enthusiasts and casual moviegoers alike. Over his career, he reviewed thousands of films and authored several books, leaving a lasting impact on the field of film criticism.

Ben Metcalfe was a Canadian journalist and environmental activist best known for co-founding Greenpeace in 1971. Born in 1919, he began his career in newspapers and radio before dedicating himself to ecological campaigns. His pioneering efforts raised public awareness about nuclear testing’s environmental impact and ocean conservation. Metcalfe’s passion for activism drove international protests and inspired a new generation of environmentalists. He continued writing and lecturing on ecological issues throughout his life, leaving a lasting legacy in the environmental movement.

Mildred Fay Jefferson was born in 1926 and became a trailblazer in medicine, graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1951 as its first African American female graduate. She specialized in surgery and built a respected career in Boston-area hospitals. Jefferson served as an advocate for the pro-life movement, using her medical background to inform her arguments against abortion. In 1973, she co-founded the National Right to Life Committee and served as its president, influencing pro-life legislation. She also engaged in political campaigns to further her advocacy and spoke before legislative bodies. Jefferson's work left a lasting impact on both medicine and social activism. She passed away in 2010, remembered as a pioneering surgeon and vocal advocate.

Nevill Drury (1947–2013) was an English-Australian journalist and publisher who became a leading voice in the study of occult and esoteric traditions. He authored and edited numerous books that explored shamanism, witchcraft, and mysticism, bringing these topics to a wider audience. As founder of Normative Press and editor of Inaugural Magazine, he championed visionary art and alternative spirituality. Drury's accessible writing style and academic rigor made complex subjects approachable to readers. His work influenced a generation of scholars and spiritual seekers interested in the hidden dimensions of human experience.

Cancio Garcia (1937–2013) was a distinguished Filipino lawyer and jurist known for his tenure on the Supreme Court of the Philippines. Appointed in the mid-1990s, he contributed to numerous landmark decisions that shaped Philippine law and governance. Earlier in his career, he practiced law and held various governmental legal positions, demonstrating a deep commitment to justice and the rule of law. Garcia was respected for his integrity, scholarly opinions, and dedication to upholding constitutional principles. His legal legacy continues to influence Philippine jurisprudence and inspire future generations of lawyers.